Radio 2 on the Ball

West End star Michael Ball will be providing BBC Radio 2 listeners with their Sunday morning soundtrack from 6 April with a new show on the station.

Ball's show will air from 6 AprilWest End star Michael Ball will be providing BBC Radio 2 listeners with their Sunday morning soundtrack from 6 April with a new show on the station.

Speaking of his excitement of starting the show, Ball voiced his hope that he would become a permanent Sunday fixture in people’s homes, “This is a wonderfully exciting new challenge in my career. I hope listeners will make a regular date to have lunch with me on Sundays.”

Ball has already enjoyed a successful long running show on the station, Ball Over Broadway, for which he travelled to New York to review shows and interview the stars of Broadway. As well as presenting one-off specials for the station, such as tributes to the composer Jerry Herman and entertainer Anthony Newley, Ball is no stranger to the weekend timeslot having previously guest presented shows on both Sunday mornings and evenings.

Lesley Douglas, controller of the station, praised Ball, saying “Michael has proved to be an accomplished presenter on Radio 2 already. His warmth, obvious love of music and sense of humour make him perfect Sunday morning company.”

Ball is currently starring as the over-sized Edna Turnblad in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury theatre. The production has been nominated for a record-breaking 11 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Ball’s nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Ball has enjoyed a hugely successful West End career with previous roles including Raoul in The Phantom Of The Opera, Marius in Les Misérables, and Count Fosco in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman In White.

Ball’s first show will air on Sunday 6 April between 11:00 and 13:00 on BBC Radio 2. em>CM